Mueller Planetarium to celebrate Astronomy Day

Learn about planets, optics, telescopes, physics, robotics, space travel, nanotechnology and more at Astronomy Day, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. April 20 at the University of Nebraska State Museum of Natural History in Morrill Hall, south of 14th and Vine streets. Visitors will get a chance to win a telescope, binoculars and other prizes, watch educational laser shows and participate in activities about space and science. Continue reading

Astronomy tour at Olana site on Saturday

By FREEMAN STAFF WHAT: Astronomy tour WHEN: Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. WHERE: Wagon House Education Center at Olana State Historic Site, 5720 state Route 9G, Hudson DETAILS: The Olana Partnership is hosting its second astronomy tour. The evening will begin with a presentation of the wonders of the night sky that are currently observable Continue reading

NASA ‘s Swift sizes up comet ISON

Mar. 29, 2013 Astronomers from the University of Maryland at College Park (UMCP) and Lowell Observatory have used NASA’s Swift satellite to check out comet C/2012 S1 (ISON), which may become one of the most dazzling in decades when it rounds the sun later this year Continue reading

Spellbinding Cosmic Beauty: Why Astronomy Images Matter

We all know that pictures are worth a thousand words, but does that maxim also apply to the world of astronomy? A team based at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Mass., has been trying to find out the answer with a years-long review of the lure of cosmic photos. The project, known as “Aesthetics & Astronomy,” consists of astronomy outreach coordinators, science writers and astrophysicists, as well as education professors who specialize in aesthetics Continue reading

The Ancient Maya: Tools of Astronomy – Video




The Ancient Maya: Tools of Astronomy Documentary on the Ancient Mayans and their astronomical exploits. This video has been uploaded to YouTube for research and educational purposes.From:ClarksHistoryReelsViews:0 0ratingsTime:44:12More inEducation Continue reading

Home observatories make star-gazing easier

Regardless of their interest in astronomy, visitors to Chris Krstanovic’s home want to look through his telescope. Krstanovic recently built an observatory at his house in Windham, N.H. Before he added the domed structure, he didn’t star-gaze as often as he liked because of the time and effort involved in setting up his telescopes and other equipment Continue reading

Video of Total Eclipse in Sidney Australia – Video




Video of Total Eclipse in Sidney Australia Video of Total Eclipse in Sidney Australia SYDNEY mdash; From boats bobbing on the Great Barrier Reef, to hot air balloons hovering over the rainforest, and the hilltops and beaches in between, tens of thousands of scientists, tourists and amateur astronomers watched as the sun, moon and Earth aligned and plunged northern Australia into darkness during a total solar eclipse Wednesday. Continue reading

Total Solar Eclipse once in a lifetime event captured in Australia – Video




Total Solar Eclipse once in a lifetime event captured in Australia Video of Total Eclipse in Sidney Australia SYDNEY mdash; From boats bobbing on the Great Barrier Reef, to hot air balloons hovering over the rainforest, and the hilltops and beaches in between, tens of thousands of scientists, tourists and amateur astronomers watched as the sun, moon and Earth aligned and plunged northern Australia into darkness during a total solar eclipse Wednesday. Stubborn clouds that many feared would ruin the view parted — somewhat — in north Queensland, defying forecasts of a total eclipse-viewing bust and relieving spectators who had fanned out to glimpse the celestial phenomenon Continue reading

Astronomical Society of Harrisburg to hold astronomy night at Swatara State Park

Group to hold astronomy night at state park The Astronomical Society of Harrisburg will hold an astronomy night at Swatara State Park Saturday, weather permitting, beginning at 5:30 p.m.. Parking is at the equestrian parking lot at Routes 443 and 72, Union Township Continue reading

New astronomy group hosts kick off event

The night sky is a wondrous, mysterious draw for star gazers and astronomy enthusiasts. The newly formed Warren County Astronomical Society hopes to attract members with a sky party kick off event, set for 4:30 p.m. Continue reading

Listening to astronomy

Astronomy started out as a purely visual science, but with todays electronics and techniques, you can also hear astronomy. It used to be that you to take classes, or else had to be in the right place at the right time to hear a lecture on astronomy. Continue reading

US Astronomy Facing Severe Budget Cuts and Facility Closures

Want to stay on top of all the space news? Follow @universetoday on Twitter The US astronomy budget is facing unprecedented cuts with potential closures of several facilities. A new report by the National Science Foundations Division of Astronomical Sciences says that available funding for ground-based astronomy could undershoot projected budgets by as much as 50%. Continue reading

Transit of Venus: What to expect (+video)

Venus will cross the face of the sun for the last time until 2117. Here’s what it will look like. Today’s historic Venus transit is a marathon event lasting nearly seven hours, but skywatchers who don’t have that kind of time can break it down into a handful of key milestones. Continue reading

Transit of Venus Explained: The Stages of Today's Rare Sun Crossing

Today’s historic Venus transit is a marathon event lasting nearly seven hours, but skywatchers who don’t have that kind of time can break it down into a handful of key milestones. Venus treks across the sun’s face from Earth’s perspective today (June 5; June 6 in much of the Eastern Hemisphere), marking the last such Venus transit until 2117. Few people alive today will be around to see the next transit, which makes the rare celestial sight a premier event in the astronomical and skywatching communities. Continue reading